“The Xu Family sent cherries over?” A look of puzzlement flashed through Senior Madam’s eyes. “Ask those two nannies to come in!”

Nanny Xu smiled: “They said it was a gift from the Empress, and that the Grand Madam specially sent some over for the household to enjoy.”

Senior Madam nodded. Nanny Xu smiled and showed the two nannies from the Xu Household in.

The two nannies paid their respects to Senior Madam, explained their errand, and Senior Madam thanked them and exchanged a few pleasantries. She gave them a tip, and Nanny Xu showed them out.

Senior Madam opened the small basket woven from fine Xiang bamboo. Resting on a bed of green leaves lay a small mound of cherries the color of red agate — quite beautiful.

Senior Madam called for Luoqiao: “Keep half for the Senior Master, and send the other half to First Madam’s quarters.”

Luoqiao acknowledged the order and went.

When she arrived at First Madam’s quarters, she ran into Fourth Master Luo Zhensheng.

His face was flushed crimson all over. Seeing Luoqiao come in, he mumbled a hasty greeting and took his leave.

Luoqiao found this quietly strange.

Ordinarily, whenever Fourth Master encountered them, he would always exchange a few jokes and pleasantries. Why today did he look as though he were fleeing in embarrassment?

First Madam also seemed reluctant to dwell on the matter, and quickly asked, “Did Mother send you on an errand?”

Luoqiao put the matter out of her mind and smiled: “The Empress bestowed some cherries on the Xu Household, and the Xu Family sent some over. Senior Madam told me to bring some for First Madam to enjoy.”

“How beautiful!” First Madam was clearly delighted, and called for Xinglin: “Send half to First Master’s quarters and the other half to Mu Ge’s quarters!”

Xinglin acknowledged the order and left. First Madam also gave Luoqiao a plain silk handkerchief as a reward.

Luoqiao thanked First Madam and turned to leave, but just outside the door she saw Luo Zhensheng talking to Xiao Liu Zi, who drove the carriage. As they spoke, Luo Zhensheng reached into his sleeve and pulled out several taels of loose silver to press into Xiao Liu Zi’s hand. Xiao Liu Zi had just reached out to take it when he looked up and spotted Luoqiao — he immediately pushed the silver away and ran off.

Luo Zhensheng could not help but glance over, and saw Luoqiao.

He walked over with some unease: “I was going to have him buy some food — who knew he’d be such a snob!”

Luoqiao smiled faintly: “What a pity Brother Xincai isn’t here. If he were, you could ask him, and it would certainly be handled well.”

But in her heart she thought: For errand boys buying things outside, there’s always a cut to be taken — who would ever turn away such a good thing? He only backed off because I caught him. I’d best leave quickly; once I’m gone, that Xiao Liu Zi will probably come looking for Fourth Master on his own anyway!

She exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Luo Zhensheng and turned back to her room.

That evening, when Senior Master returned home, Senior Madam hurried forward to help him change his clothes: “Have you eaten?”

Senior Master let Senior Madam help him out of his outer robe, and nodded. “I have — I ate at Third Brother’s place.”

Senior Madam had Luoqiao bring out the cherries: “…They came from the Grand Madam — said they were a gift from the Empress. It isn’t much, but it’s the thought that counts.”

Senior Master gave a sound of acknowledgment, washed his face, settled onto the kang, and said, “Third Brother’s posting has been decided — he has been appointed Education Commissioner of Sichuan.”

“Really!” Senior Madam said with delight. “That is wonderful news!”

Senior Master nodded. “They say the Marquis put in a word on his behalf.”

A slight stiffness entered Senior Madam’s smile. She hesitated: “And your own posting…?”

“It seems unlikely for me.” Senior Master let out a long breath.

Senior Madam’s heart gave a lurch. She shifted closer to sit beside him. “What has happened?” Her voice dropped low.

“I talked with Third Brother at length today. Since His Majesty has appointed Chen Zixiang as Chief Grand Secretary, he has clearly made up his mind to push through the new policies. I am a man of Grand Secretary Liu’s faction — for as long as Chen Zixiang holds office, there will be no path forward for me.” Senior Master gave a bitter smile. “I could not see the mountain for standing on it. Third Brother spoke to me frankly today, and I woke as if from a long dream — now I understand the reason.” He shook his head.

Senior Madam hesitated: “Is there truly no other way?”

“There is.” Senior Master said with self-mockery. “The new policies fail.”

Senior Madam fell silent.

“In officialdom, one dreads standing on the wrong side,” Senior Master said with deep feeling, “and dreads even more the thought of switching sides. When Grand Secretary Liu opposed the tea tax reforms, he specifically instructed me to submit a memorial against them. Second Brother and Third Brother kept out of it at the time, which makes their position somewhat more tenable — but I absolutely cannot be seen supporting the new policies under these circumstances.”

Senior Madam had grown up in her father’s yamen and naturally understood the implications of what her husband was saying. As Senior Master had said: to hold firm and refuse to recant preserved one’s integrity; but to change sides — whoever came to power would never trust such a man again.

“Then, are we not to return to Yuhang…” Senior Madam could not conceal her disappointment.

“We still have Xing Ge, do we not?” Though the words were spoken thus, a faint and quiet melancholy lingered on his face.

Husband and wife sat facing each other, in silence for a long while.

Somewhere just beyond the window lattice, someone passed by — the sound of low, bright laughter drifted in.

Senior Madam heard it and felt a sudden surge of irritation. She rose to her feet, just on the verge of calling out a sharp reprimand, when she looked up and saw her husband sitting across from her, head drooping in low spirits. Fearing he would think her petty for venting her anger on such a small matter — and worried it might cost her the reputation of a virtuous wife — the words that reached her lips changed into: “Where has Luoqiao gone? I told her to bring out the cherries, and she’s been this long about it?”

Du Wei, who was attending nearby, had heard the entire exchange between husband and wife and could see that Senior Madam’s temper was rising. She quickly said, “Senior Madam, allow me to go and check.” With that, she hurried off to the side room.

The side room was brightly lit. Luoqiao, Shanhu, Daimao, Feicui — several of them were all there, darting about the room like headless flies searching for something.

“What is going on?” Du Wei said urgently. “Senior Madam is asking — why have the cherries still not been brought out?”

Luoqiao looked up, her face white as paper.

Feicui cried in a panic beside her: “What do we do? What do we do?” Then she said, “Who was keeping watch here just now? Call everyone in and ask, one by one — I refuse to believe those cherries could have sprouted wings and flown away!”

Only then did Du Wei understand — they had been searching for the cherries all along.

“This won’t do,” said Daimao, her own face gone pale. “If this matter blows up, it may be impossible to contain.”

“What’s the point of talking about containing it now?” Shanhu’s face was even whiter than Luoqiao’s. “We need to go and tell Senior Madam right away. The longer we wait, the more displeased she will be… Better to explain it properly — if Senior Madam is in a good mood, maybe nothing will come of it.”

Faced with the situation before her, Luoqiao grew strangely calm: “I’ll go and report to Senior Madam.”

She squared her shoulders and walked out.

“Luoqiao,” Du Wei quickly called her back and summarized in a few brief words what Senior Madam and Senior Master had been saying earlier. “…I’m afraid the timing is not good.”

Luoqiao’s face went ashen.

After a long moment, she forced out a faint smile. “Even so, we can’t just stand here doing nothing!” She strode out with a firm step.

Shanhu was so angry she balled her hands into fists: “Keep looking — I am going to find whoever ate those cherries today no matter what! I refuse to believe that someone could eat the cherries and swallow down the sweet white porcelain dish they were served on as well!”

Daimao hesitated: “Should we not inform First Madam? It is ultimately First Madam who manages this room — perhaps she might be able to put in a good word for Luoqiao.”

Feicui, on hearing this, immediately ran out: “I’ll go ask First Madam!”

Shanhu called out “Hey!” — but she had already vanished. Shanhu stomped her foot in frustration. “That reckless one — does she even think before she acts? Going to First Madam at a time like this — First Madam will think we’re finding fault with her!”

Daimao moved to go after her.

Shanhu sighed: “Forget it — there’s no catching her now.” Then she said, “We might as well go and watch. If there’s a chance to say something helpful, we can.”

Daimao thought this made sense, and the two went out to stand under the eaves.

When they drew close enough, they heard Senior Master say: “…It’s only a plate of cherries. Gone is gone. Tomorrow have someone go buy more from the East Gate market.”

“Senior Master is quite right,” came Senior Madam’s voice, sharp with cold contempt. “It’s only a plate of cherries, yet someone was sneaking and scheming to get at them. If it were a piece of gold, I suppose they couldn’t take their eyes off it for a moment? Am I living in my own home or in a den of thieves?”

Just then, they saw Feicui escorting First Madam over.

Shanhu and Daimao hurried to meet them: “First Madam…”

First Madam’s expression was somewhat strained. She gave them a brief nod and went inside.

The three of them strained their ears to listen.

At first, they could not make out much — only that Senior Madam’s tone was very agitated, and First Madam did not say a single word. Then, toward the end, Senior Madam’s voice suddenly rose several pitches, and the group caught the words clearly: “…How could it have sprouted wings? Lock the doors and have the place searched!”

First Madam’s reply of “Yes” was heard, and she then instructed Dujuan to fetch Nanny Hang and Nanny Jiang, who set about searching the main courtyard and the rear courtyard respectively.

Nanny Jiang, knowing that several young misses resided in the rear courtyard, led her group of women to the rear gate and knocked it open — then stood there without moving.

One of the women said, “Nanny, what are you doing? First Madam is waiting for our report.”

Nanny Jiang smiled. “If something was taken from the main courtyard, chances are it’s still in the main courtyard. Let’s wait until they’ve finished searching over there before we come in — no point in offending the young misses for nothing.”

The women all fell silent — the rear courtyard housed three young misses: one destined to be the wife of a high-ranking official, another already the wife of a man who had passed the provincial examination… Nanny Jiang was indeed perceptive.

Everyone followed Nanny Jiang’s lead and leaned in to listen for what was happening in the main courtyard.

Before long, they heard one of the women who had gone with Nanny Hang to search the rooms report: “Nanny Hang, the plate hasn’t been found — but some cherries have been found.”

Nanny Jiang was delighted. She gave a look to the other women, then strolled over with unhurried composure: “First Madam, we found nothing on our side.”

First Madam waved off Nanny Jiang and the others, her full attention now on Nanny Hang’s side.

“Let me see!”

The woman promptly brought over a blue-and-white porcelain plate of cherries.

A maidservant nearby could be heard saying in a low voice: “First Madam, I didn’t steal them… I truly did not steal them…”

Nanny Jiang looked over. To her surprise, it was Di Jin, from Fourth Master’s rooms.

First Madam did not so much as glance at her, and went in to see Senior Madam.

Di Jin’s face was streaked with tears, yet she kept turning to look toward the east wing: “I truly didn’t steal them…”

Behind the wide-open door of the east wing, several small maidservants poked their heads out — but not one of them stepped forward to say a word.

Before long, First Madam came back out and fixed Di Jin with a cold stare. “Lock her in the firewood room for now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow!” She then swept her gaze over the assembled group. “Everyone disperse!” The women led Di Jin away to the firewood room.

Di Jin struggled: “Fourth Master, Fourth Master — I truly did not steal them…”

The door of the east wing stood quietly in place. Only a pale yellow light seeped through, stretching long shadows across the white stone steps — the light was soft, but it felt terribly lonely.

—